Existing Networks Besides Fast Ethernet example essay topic

The urging demand for higher transmission speeds prompted by fast network growth has been answered by the creation Fast Ethernet specification (I 802.3 u) known as 100 BASET. Fast Ethernet has put the plank for data transmission rate from 10 Megabits per second to 100 Megabits, but most importantly it was possible to achieve with only minimal changes to the existing cable structure. Moreover, the emerged technology has feature called Auto negotiation that provide compatibility with 10 BASET legacy equipment and several variations of Fast Ethernet. Fast Ethernet utilizes twisted-pair and fiber optic cabling. An important part of Fast Ethernet specifications is Auto-Negotiation of the media speed.

This makes it possible to employ dual-speed Ethernet interfaces that can be installed and run at either 10-Mbps or 100-Mbps automatically. New technology fits great in existing network structure effectively; in combination with switches, it eliminates bottlenecks in most congested segments with minimal costs. Fast Ethernet repeaters are often used between switches allowing a connect at 100 Mbs speed. Fast Ethernet uses the same RJ 45 jack and the wiring at the connector is indistinguishable.

However, on 100 Mbs segments Category 5 rated twisted pair cable has to be installed. An essential part of Fast Ethernet is repeater, a network device aimed to translate or replicate a signal. The two types of Fast Ethernet repeaters offered on the market today are: Class I Repeater: the device operates translates line signals on the incoming port to a digital signal. This ensures compatibility between different types of Fast Ethernet like 100 BASE-TX and 100 BASE-FX.

The downside is that only one repeater can be put in a single Fast Ethernet LAN segment. Class II Repeater: The Class II repeater instantly repeats the signal on an incoming port to all the ports on the repeater. Typically Class II repeaters, have all ports of the same Fast Ethernet type. Very little delay is introduced by this quick movement of data across the repeater; thus two Class II repeaters are allowed per Fast Ethernet segment. Class I repeaters are slower (140 bit times for its round-trip delay) compared to Class II (92 bits times or less), but provide translation that ensures compatibility.

Class II repeaters, although faster, support only a single technology. Standard topologies for 100 BaseT networks are one Class I repeater, which allow network diameter of 200 m using copper cable and stations that may be 100 m from the repeater, and two Class II repeaters. The latter are attached via a 5-m cable that provides a diameter of 205 m and stations that may be 100 m from each repeater. Wide-spread popularity of Fast Ethernet is accounted for its low cost implementation, excellent compatibility with most existing networks, besides Fast Ethernet is still Ethernet, with all it proved reliability and wide-spread popularity. Due to the above reasons Fast Ethernet has become de facto standard in the industry. Gigabit Ethernet The growing use of high-speed LAN technologies created a need for an even higher speed network technology in the systems including desktop and beyond.

Though Fast Ethernet did considerably boost network performance, it is still inadequate for the constantly increasing network traffic. Besides it has created a traffic jams at server connections, switch stacks, and other points of aggregation. Gigabit is the next development of Ethernet technology. The transfer rate of information is astonishing 1,000 Mega-bits per second (Mbps), thereby increasing the speed of a 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps network by a factor of 100 or 10 respectively. Gigabit Ethernet uses many of the same technical standards as previous Ethernet versions, and therefore, represents logical and appropriate solution for upgrading the network. Intel and other networking vendors believed that Gigabit Ethernet had two advantages definite strong points to become next de facto standards in networking.

First, upgrading to Gigabit from previous Ethernet networks is relatively easy. Current users will be able to upgrade their Ethernet networks at reasonable cost without interrupting existing service. Secondly, Ethernet was traditionally an open technology. The Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers (I ) established standards for Ethernet, thereby permitting numerous vendors to market and distribute the technology, making it the standard for LANs.

Initially, GE has three transmission media: long-wave laser over single-mode and multi-mode fiber (1000 BaseLX), short-wave laser over multi-mode fiber (1000 BaseSX), and balanced shielded 150-ohm copper cable (1000 Baselx). However, the acceptance of the 1000 BaseT standards in 1999, has opened the existing copper infrastructure for widespread deployment of Gigabit. Now, organizations can utilize the copper cabling they already have in place to upgrade their LAN at a small cost. The fiber optics and balanced shielded cables can be employed at the following range: 1000 BaseLX is suitable for long-distance transmissions of 200 meters, 1000 BaseSX is suitable for shorter transmissions of 50 meters, and balanced shielded 150-ohm copper cable is suitable for intra-rack connections. The current speed allowable over these types of media with GE is 1.25 Gbps half-duplex, and 2.50 Gbps full duplex. GE has definite advantages in conquering networks compared with competing standards, like Asynchronous Transfer Mode.

Cost of implementing and maintaining GE is undeniably lower, it is widely adopted, and closely resembles its predecessors, 10 BaseT, and 100 BaseT. No extra effort needed in making it compatible with other popular protocols, and virtually every network specialist is familiar with the existing Ethernet protocol. Compatibility with existing network and computer hardware is a tough issue for any newcomer, but not for GE. Already many organizations upgrade their networks using GE standard, addressing narrow points at server connections, boosting bandwidth of switch link and bringing down GE power down to workstations. An increase in server capacities has enabled procession of increasingly larger files, which in turn creates jams over 100 BaseT. This problem is more acute when the network involves a lot of server-to-server communication.

Upgrading high-capacity servers with Gigabit NICs can spectacularly improve network traffic. With the price of Gigabit NICs averaging $200, going with a 1000 BaseT solution here provides the most performance enhancement for the money. Gigabit switch up link solution can relieve an especially overloaded switched lines. The 1000 BaseT standard provides high-bandwidth connectivity from desktop switches to servers. A Gigabit solution here can help ensure smooth operations by moving traffic quickly from the back end to the front end. Endpoints of each segment may benefit greatly from deployment of Gigabit up link switches.

These up link switches can be purchased at reasonable prices from various vendors, such as Cisco and 3-Com. The final level of GE employment is ultimately a desktop. Some organizations may find that more bandwidth is needed for high-performance workstations. As Gigabit adapters price goes steadily down, an increasing number of companies will consider bringing GE down to desktops.

Though GE bandwidth will come only on condition that all connected switches operate at 1000-Mbps speed, there are a wide variety of 10/100/1000 connectivity devices that will allow network professionals to negotiate network speed throughout the organization and even down to the desktop, based on their requirements. 10 Gigabit Ethernet Future These days, while most businesses are using Ethernet-based connections that run at either 10 or 100 megabits per second (m bps) or 1 gigabit per second (g bps), networking companies and I group are in the midst of a two-year endeavor to boost Ethernet's speed tenfold: to 10 g bps. "Applications, such as video streaming, are going to flourish", said Frank Robles, vice president of corporate development for Yipes, a start-up that offers cheap but fast Net service to businesses. "When the handcuffs were taken off with memory of computers, applications exploded. The same thing will happen with more bandwidth". The new hyper-speed technology promises a whole new world of opportunities.

Network providers wait for further development with great enthusiasm, the technology promises them competitive advantages in the market. Newcomers, such as Yipes and Telson, recently captured about US$200 million each in venture capital funding. The start-ups, which also include Cogent Communications and Intelli space, have been using Ethernet-based GE equipment, but 10 GE will enable them to come up with new services, such as video-on-demand and storage of company data. The higher-speed Ethernet products will be used to unclog congestion on corporate networks, providing the extra capacity needed for employees to perform bandwidth-demanding tasks on their computers, such as exchanging large files, conducting video conferences, or making phone calls over the Net. 10 GE have all chances to become as widely popular as 100 BaseT now. It has successful heritage of its predecessors; there are over 300 million switched Ethernet installed worldwide.

It supports the same media access control (MAC) protocol. And finally, there is whole industry, from chip set vendors and optical components manufacturers up the value chain to systems vendors that shares the design philosophy of the Ethernet: high-volume manufacturing and low-cost design. Not single vendor standard, however successful it can be, cannot compete with an open source design in terms of prices.